A TUG of cataphracts (devastating chargers) is facing infantry less than 3BW directly ahead. Some enemy cavalry is not directly ahead but just to one side of the target infantry.

In the declaring charges phase (2.2) the enemy cavalry declare a charge, needing a wheel at the start) on the cataphracts (to protect the infantry). The owner of the cataphracts does not have the command to stop them from a Forced Charge. So when it comes to the forced charges phase (2.3) who do the cataphracts declare their forced charge at? A) The infantry directly ahead, which would leave their flank open to the charging enemy cavalry or B) the enemy cavalry who theoretically would be charging into their front as they move forward. In situation (B) feels like you should consider identifying the charge path in the same way that it is done for shooting at chargers.

A third option would be C) for the cataphracts to declare a charge at phase 2.2 (but loose the Devastating Charge ability) at the enemy cavalry before it has to force charge in 2.3. I get the impression from the rules that this is not allowed. Is this correct?

If the cataphracts had held their charge in 2.2 could they then still declare a countercharge in 2.4 if they had the command to do so?

Thanks Richard.

Can you point me to where in the rules it states clearly what you just stated so that I can reference it when I am challenged within my group.

Thanks for the response.

So shooting at protected troops is a downgrade in dice colour due to their armour (if no other factors - white down to black)?

If these target troops also had Shield Cover, and no other upgrade factor, the downgrade is still only to black?

Essentially shooting at troops with any armour (definition of Protected is that they some armour) other than unprotected results in a colour downgrade?

Trying to understand the rules about the affect armour has on shooting. Starting the sentences with "Any" for the upgrade and downgrade factors is very confusing. More so when looking at the downgrade

So starting with the upgrade box for Armour:- "Any" what? I can accept this in the QRS if it was more fully clarified in the rule book. Does it apply to the rest of the sentence? If so it would have been better written as "Shooting at ..... 1BW" then adding "except for artillery shooting". I think I can just about make sense of what is being said here.

My biggest issue is with the downgrade armour box. Again, what does the "Any" refer to? Category of units shooting or the armour of the target troops? So lets assume that the "Any" refers to the category of the shooting unit (this seems the best interpretation!), does this imply that when shooting target units with armour you downgrade the dice colour.  However, "Armour" is defined on page 49 as Unprotected, Protected, Fully Armoured and Armoured Horse. So does this mean all shooting is downgraded as this section does not differentiate between the different types of armour!!

This is further complicated by target units with Shield Cover. The affect stated in the rules is that this ability upgrades the target up one armour level. But has is this factored in to the QRS table when armour is defined as Unprotected, Protected, Fully Armoured and Armoured Horse? Do you downgrade a second time if possible?